Medway count reveals high numbers for Kent

[WD-40]

News from the RSPB site

RSPB South East is delighted to announce significant birds counts around North Kent.

Europe's largest wildlife conservation charity, which owns or manages seven reserves on the North Kent coast, has reported thousands of breeding birds on Medway islands.

The count includes 5,500 pairs of black-headed gulls on Burntwick Island alone, indicating the Medway estuary to have one of the UK's largest black-headed gull colonies.

Also recorded are 480 pairs of sandwich terns, a startlingly white bird with a 'punk' hair-do and a long black bill. Early indications suggest this is the South East's biggest colony.

Gordon Allison, RSPB North Kent Marshes Warden, said: 'In an era of climate change and mass development, it's great to have some good news for wildlife. These counts show just how important an area for wild birds the Medway really is. Not only is it internationally important for wintering birds, it is also of national importance for nesting sea-birds.

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[rolf]

Nice to hear some good news for a change.